Hit the High Spots, To 🎢
Meaning: To do something superficially. Presumably, this expression comes from sloppy cleaning or polishing, that is, attending to the raised surfaces and ignoring the rest. Used since about 1900, it is applied to any kind of haphazard performance.
Related Terms and Expressions:
- Glance over: Quickly look without deep engagement.
- Skim the surface: To examine only the most apparent or superficial aspects.
- Barely scratch the surface: Failing to explore the deeper or more significant parts of something.
Synonyms:
- Dab
- Skim
- Glide
- Touch lightly
Antonyms:
- Dig deep
- Delve
- Probe
- Scrutinize
Humor-filled Quote:
“If you’re only hitting the high spots, don’t expect a gold medal in the cleaning Olympics!” - Anonymous
Wise Proverbs:
- “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
In Literature:
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: Shows the dangers of superficial engagement with literature and knowledge.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Gatsby’s lavish parties could be seen as hitting the high spots of society’s shallowness.
In Songs:
- 🎵 “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper: Explores the superficiality of relationships and the desire to delve deeper.
- 🎵 “Surface Pressure” from Encanto: Highlights how people often see only the confident, composed exterior of someone under stress.
In Movies:
- 🎬 Shallow Hal: A film about seeing beyond the superficial and recognizing inner beauty.
- 🎬 Inside Out: Contrasts surface behaviors with deeper emotional undertones.
Inspirational Thought:
“Life is like a deep well of richness. Skimming the top might get you momentary thrills, but diving deep reaches the real treasures.”
Quizzes 🌟🎓
### Which of these idioms means to do something superficially?
- [x] Hit the high spots
- [ ] Taste with a silver spoon
- [ ] Look through rose-colored glasses
- [ ] Eat your heart out
> **Explanation:** "Hit the high spots" specifically refers to doing something without much depth or effort.
### Choose the phrase that means exploring something in-depth.
- [ ] Hit the high spots
- [ ] Skim the cream
- [ ] Fly on cloud nine
- [x] Dig deep
> **Explanation:** "Dig deep" means to thoroughly investigate or analyze something, as opposed to the superficial nature of "hit the high spots."
### True or False: "Glance over" is synonymous with "dig deep."
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Glance over" means to look at something briefly or without much attention, the opposite of "dig deep."
Farewell, dear readers! May you always strive to dig deep into the wellspring of life’s myriad experiences, never content with merely hitting the high spots.
- P. L. Playlight
